Farrah Fawcett loses cancer battle

Fawcett appeared frequently on TV to share details of her battle with cancer [GALLO/GETTY]

"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's partner, said in a statement.

Video diary

Fawcett's death came just six weeks after the television broadcast in May of a video diary she made chronicling her battle with cancer and her final months.

Farrah's Story was in effect a self-penned obituary by the actress, who had been bedridden at the time.

In her last few years, Fawcett appeared frequently on entertainment television, where she shared details of her battle with cancer.

But she was outraged when news of her deteriorating condition was leaked to tabloid newspapers.

A hospital employee in Los Angeles was charged in 2008 with stealing and selling Fawcett's medical records, leading to a new law in the state of California imposing tighter controls on medical files and stiffer penalties for privacy breaches.